When I was a kid, I had this awesome pop-up book that featured all of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was my favorite thing in the world, mostly because I learned how to read really late in life and picture books were the only ones I could enjoy, but also because of the wonderment each of those images instilled in me.

Once I actually learned how to read, though, I learned that there was a whole new set of "Modern Wonders" and my favorite among them was the Taj Mahal. Sure, the fact that I was a Muslim kid who was very familiar with the sight of minarets might have had something to do with it, but there's no doubt the building is ridiculously beautiful, and even my newly literate dumb-self could see that fact, plain and clear.

In fact, if you ask anyone to name a single monument, or building in India, or ask them to pick one image associated with the country, they'll probably mention the Taj Mahal.

But now, a controversial right-wing lawmaker, Sangeet Som, is making headlines by calling the beautiful monument a "blot on Indian culture," and saying that the construction of the majestic domicile was "built by traitors" to the country.

The building was commissioned in 1631 by Shah Jahan to commemorate his wife the Persian Princess Mumtaz Mahal after she passed away. Som is arguing that because the Taj was commissioned and constructed by Mughal (or Mogul) emperors in India, a dynasty comprised of leaders that were part Persian with some Mongolian roots, that it's not part of "true" Indian culture.

There are some who agree with Som's mindset, and even expressed a socio-religious mindset behind the anti-Taj sentiment.

Any structure built killing lacs of Hindus can't represent Indian culture..feeling proud of one's own culture is more important than 7wonder https://t.co/SEpqEnzkbm